A modest rise in activity in Britain’s construction sector in February did little to dispel fears that the country slipped back into recession in the first three months of the year.

Output in the construction sector grew by 5.5 per cent in February, the Office for National Statistics said yesterday. Although this marked a turnaround from the previous month’s contraction, it was very weak for the time of year. Activity rose about 11 per cent on average in February over the previous three years. The sector is heavily affected by freezing weather and snow, meaning that data for last month